I had the pleasure ofinterveningJaclyn this week and I am thrilled to share it with all of you. Diane, Liz, myself and the rest of the Balanced Bites team are HUGE fans and advocates for Bone Broth. We could not be happier tointroducethis great new book andresourceto you. Jaclyn not only is offering up a FREE copy ofBone Broth: A Recipe for Healthto one lucky reader but she as also given us a sneak peek to share – enter the contest and get the FREE recipe at the botom of this post.
How did the idea for a book solely based around bone broth come about?
To be honest, it was my Dad’s idea! My husband and I started following a paleo diet about 2 ½ years ago when we got engaged. My husband was intrigued due to its reported health benefits, but admittedly I followed suit to lose weight. Every girl wants to look her best at her wedding! What we didn’t know was that my Dad (who lives on the other side of the world from us) was doing the very same thing
To make a long story short, soon after “going paleo” we all decided to incorporate traditional nutrient-dense foods into our paleo diet, using the Weston A. Price and GAPS recommendations as a guideline. We made bone broth a staple and saw incredible health improvements. My Dad pointed out that although many members of the paleo community (including you and Liz!) advocate bone broth, there was a need for a single source of comprehensive information. We thought we’d help spread the word about bone broth’s wonderful healing properties and perhaps help others benefit as we did. Bone Broth: A Recipe for Health was born!
How has the addition of bone broth changed you and your family’s health?
I’ll rewind to the start of 2012. After following the paleo diet for over a year, I experienced major improvements in my health with the most significant change being my weight and physique. Having struggled with weight my entire life, I was thrilled to slim down and gain muscle, especially in time for my wedding. However, as many people report, I was still suffering from several symptoms, including post birth control syndrome (as Chris Kresser calls it), GI symptoms and a sluggish liver, among others. It’s possible these symptoms were persisting in spite of the paleo diet, but they also may have been because of the paleo diet (at least in part) – also a common occurrence in the community!
Under the care of Chris Kresser, I started following a modified GAPS diet full of nutrient dense foods, including loads of bone broth. My husband did as well (because I am the cook!) and so did my Dad (at my urging). Well… we all saw incredible results – for symptoms we were trying to treat as well as others. We were floored! For me, all of the aforementioned symptoms were resolved in less than six months. My husband effectively treated his GI symptoms as well as adrenal and skin issues, and my Dad at the age of 65 has never looked or felt better. We’re working on my Mom now!
What can our readers expect to find in Bone Broth: A Recipe for Health?
Anything and everything related to bone broth! In my opinion, the most eye-opening and valuable takeaway is the explanation of broth’s seemingly magical healing properties.
As you must know, it’s not magic at all. The healing is a result of the powerful minerals and nutrients found in the bones, which are leeched into the broth as a result of a simple preparation method (described in the book). Calcium, magnesium, collagen, glycine and proline are just a few of the nutrients critical to healing.
In Bone Broth: A Recipe for Health, we’ve covered the basics, including preparation methods, tips and tricks for maximum nutrition, and recipes from paleo and whole foods experts including Mark Sisson and Sally Fallon Morrell. But we’ve also covered more obscure topics such as recommended cooking utensils for minimal toxicity and how bone broth helps certain populations such as children and pregnant women (including me! I drink 2-3 cups/day) as well as sufferers of adrenal fatigue and athletes. In fact, we think bone broth should be the next Gatorade! Did you know that it enhances performance as well as recovery from exercise? Oh, and it has none of the “nasties” such as high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors and colors that Gatorade-like products contain!
What are some of the major benefits from drinking bone broth?
Some say, “Good bone broth can resurrect the dead!” While I can’t vouch for that, I can tell you that there is extensive research showing that bone broth has some pretty incredible health benefits. Here are just a few that might be of interest to your readers:
- Heals the gut lining
- Supports healthy digestion and nutrient absorption
- Bolsters the immune system and helps ward off illness
- Strengthens bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and aids arthritis
- Promotes healthy, supple skin and strong teeth
- Helps eliminate autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease, diabetes, Crohn’s and multiple sclerosis
In fact, the health benefits are so varied and extensive, that we created this snapshot of the health conditions that benefit from bone broth.
What suggestion do you have for someone who does not like the smell or taste of bone broth?
Really? I can’t imagine! My favorite way to consume broth is as chicken soup – I add chicken, carrots, celery, onions, garlic and dill to my chicken broth and voila, it’s a delicious and nourishing meal. My second favorite is ‘as is’ or ‘Meat Tea’ as we call it in the book. My husband and I sip on a huge mug of chicken, oxtail or lamb broth each morning – I warm it on the stove with some Celtic sea salt, fresh parsley and garlic. It’s both energizing and soothing at the same time. Oh, and I love making creamy butternut squash or pumpkin soup with chicken broth as the base!
But for those who do not like the taste, we include in the book a ‘Top 10 List’ for ways to easily incorporate it into your diet. The options are endless, from stews to curries to chili. One way to “hide” it is to use it in place of water when cooking or reheating meals – i.e., use it to stir-fry vegetables, cook rice, or reheat meat dishes. The nutrients in the broth will be absorbed into the meal, providing you with all of the benefits without the taste.The smell is a tricky one! How about banishing your crockpot to the garage or laundry room?
Kitchen tip:
In Bone Broth: A Recipe for Health, we include many useful kitchen tips for saving money and time, maximizing nutrition and flavor, and storing and serving broth of all types. It’s hard to choose just one!
I guess the most valuable tip when it comes to preparing, storing and consuming homemade broth is to label your containers. I can’t tell you how many times I thought, “I’ll remember when I made that” and later found myself agonizing over when I made it. If you want to be fancy, you can buy storage labels. Or, if you’re like me, masking tape and a felt pen will work just fine. I tend to include the type of broth, whether it was seasoned and salted, and the date of preparation on my labels. This saves time and eliminates the risk of consuming expired broth.
Oh, and make HUGE batches at a time. It doesn’t take any more effort to make a large batch than a small one, and you’ll be happy when you have it on hand. Broth can be stored in containers or ice cube trays in the freezer for up to six months.
You candownload FREErecipe from the bookhere >Brown Beef Bone Stock Recipe.
TO ENTER THE “Bone Broth for Health” BOOK GIVEAWAY:
1.“Like” Bone Brothon Facebook.
2. Comment here letting us know you've completed one or both of the above, and tell us why you want a copy of “Bone Broth for Health.”If you've already ordered a copy, tell us who you'd give a second copy away to and why.
NOTE: Only one comment per person will count as an entry. Posting more than one comment will disqualify you from the contest, so please just post once! Thanks!
That’s it! No purchase necessary.
This contest will be open for entries until 6 pm Eastern on Tuesday, March 26th, 2013.One winner will be selected using random.org and emailed and announced here on the blog. If you do reply to the winning announcement email to claim your prize within 48 hours of the announcement, a new winner will be selected in your place.
